Can opening device



Jan. 1, 1935.

c. HARRIS ET AL 1,986,337 CAN OPENING DEVICE I Filed March 15. 1934 2 Shets-Sheet 1 40 2 BY fiw 6 M W WATTORNEXS Jan. 1, 1935. c. HARRIS El AL; f 1,986,337

CAN OPENING DEVICE Filed March 15. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 64, PM; $36 M W W ATTORN EY! Patented Jan. 1, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENING DEVICE Cleo Harris, Cincinnati, and

wood, Ohio, assignors om B. Clark, Norto The Cincinnati Ball CrankCompany, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 15,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to can opening devices and is particularly directed to an improved can opener, preferably for sealed cans, which can opener incorporates a pouring spout.

v It is the present practice of refiners to furnish engine lubricating oil in sealed cans bearing the label of the manufacturer or refiner. This canned oil is supplied not only for sale direct to the user or through retail agents, but is furnished to the service station operator, whereby he is able to empty the cans directly into the crank case of the motor car. This mode of merchandizing oil is rapidly coming into extensive use for the reason that it guarantees a definite amount of oil and a definite quality of oil as evidenced by the label on the can, showing the amount and the refiner.

Since the development of this type of oil merchandizing, the practice of bootlegging or illegally refilling empty labelled cans by other than the refiners named has been prevalent. This has been possible due to the fact that the cans have been cut open at the top leaving the lithograph on the can side intact.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a can opening device which cuts a hole in the side wall of the can and thereby destroys the lithographing embodied on this wall, making it practically impossible to refill the can without detection.

In conjunction with the foregoing, the further object of this invention is to provide a can opening device which: cuts a large hole in the can side close to the top, insuring complete and quick drainage; include-s a knife which in conjunction with a gasket and positive attachment means forms a seal against oil leakage and fastens the opener securely in position on the can; incorporates a replaceable knife and gasket for convenience and cheap maintenance; includes a vent hole in the spout for permitting quick drainage;

makes it possible to set the can down after it has been opened without dangerof spilling when it is either entirely or partly filled; is quickly and easily applied; and does not require a funnel when dispensing, in other words, which incorporates a pouring spout as a part of the opening device.

Although the present improvement has occurred in view of the specific problem above mentioned, it is pointed out here that its'application and utility are general, that is to say, a combination can opening and pouring device is provided which can be used for the purpose of opening cans of any sort, sealed or otherwise.

1934, Serial No. 715,686

Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the can opening and pouring device showing it in its position on the can prior to cutting theopening in the can.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device showing it in position of use.

Figure 3 is the fragmentary top view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 3, disclosing, on an enlarged scale, the relation of the device to the can when in operative position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 4, detailing the packing.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the cutting element showing it removed from the device.

Figure 8 is a view of the device incorporating an extension for application to a larger can.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary partially sectional view of the lower end of the device of Figure 8, further illustrating the extension.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device, wherein a single control hook contact is made with the lip of the can.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of another modification of the device, wherein the fulcrum plate is extended to the lower edge of the can for contact therewith.

Referring to the drawings, the two major sections of the device are indicated at 10 and 11. The first section, namely 10, includes attaching hooks or claws 12 and is in the nature of a support for the other section. .The second section is pivoted on the first section and carries the cutting blade 13, the spout 14, and an attaching hook element 15, cooperating with the hooks 12 of the support for securing the device on the can.

The cutter blade 13 is mounted at the throat of the spout 14, or, in other words, at the entrance, so that it will make an opening in the can adjacent the receiving end of the spout.

The support element or pivot plate 10, described in detail, is formed of sheet metal stock bent to, provide an arcuate pad section 16 fitting the curvature of the can, that is to say, lying --circumferentially thereagainst, and side arms 1'7 adapted to extend generally parallel with the side of the can. These arms are arranged edgewise relative to the can side. The upper ends of the arms are cut out to provide the hooks 12.

These hooks are adapted to lie crosswise of the bead or marginal lip of the can shown at 18, and for purpose of attachment engage the inner side of this marginal lip of the can.

The carrier section 11 is pivoted on this support element. For this purpose a pivot rod 19 connects the upper ends of the arms above the hooks and adequately spaced therefrom for a purpose hereinafter specified.

The body of the swinging carrier section is stamped out to provide reinforcing flanges 20 along its edges, a cross-sleeve 21 along its upper edge engaged on the pivot rod, and an outwardly extended flange 22 pressed out from its flat body wall over which the spout is secured by any preferred fusion means. From the pivot sleeve 21 and between the arms 17 of the support section,

the carrier section extends outwardly as at 23 and is turned substantially at right angles. This first extended portion 23 is designed to throw the main body of the carrier section into a plane where it will position itself properly when swung to lie against the side of the can. The pivot is set as far toward the center of the can as. possible and is preferably disposed over the hooks '12 for the purpose of properly disposing the thrust when the can opening and spout attaching operation is performed. This will be described more in detail later after the description of the cutting blade and is necessary in order to cause a positive hook action which will not compel special attention from the operator while being performed.

Normally the entire spout and blade-carrying section is urged away from parallelism with the support by means of a coil spring 24 disposed around the pivot rod, and having its terminals 25 engaging the support and carrier section respectively.

The arms of the support have inwardly turned flanges 26 provided on the tops thereof, which flanges form positive stops or abutments for limiting outward swinging movement of the blade and spout-carrying element.

Specifically, the outwardly pressed portion 22 over which the spout is secured includes a marginal wall portion 27 at right angles to the body of the swinging section, and a lip portion 28 extended parallel to the body of the swinging section and forming the margin for the opening 29 to the spout. This marginal lip also serves as a support for a packing which will be described.

The knife (see Figure 7) is U-shaped in cross section and is secured in position in the opening 29. This knife projects from the opening in a direction opposite to the spout. Attachment to the lip portion 28 is accomplished by means of flanges 30 extended laterally from the sides of the opening, which flangesenter slots 31 in projected ears 32 on each side of the knife blade element. The knife can be sprung into position over these lugs. Theknife projects in general at right angles .from the lip 28, but along its upper portion, or at the bend of the U, is curved longitudinally or outwardly to provide a sharp penetrating edge 33.

ing purposes. The outer face of the gasket is adapted to engage the can margin about the hole cut therein by the knife element.

The knife blade has notches 36 in its lower edge, whereby the gasket will be engaged therein. Upon continued use the gasket will spread and become tightly packed in these notches, preventing any chance of accidental displacement.

The upper or bent portion of the knife incorporates apertures 3'? adjacent the gasket or packing, so that drainage of oil can take place from the space above the curved side of the knife through the knife into the spout.

The U-shaped hook element cooperates with the hooks 12 on the support element, and is pivotally mounted on the lower edge of the swinging carrier section. A pivot pin 39 extends through the arms of the element 15 and through the reinforcing flanges along the side edges of the swinging section. The main wall of the swinging section is flared outwardly at the base, and the pivot pin is supported in the large flange portion thus provided.

The upper edges of the arms of the U-shaped hook are cut out to provide a pair of books. is done by cutting circular openings 40 in the upper edges of the arms, sharpened points 41 being provided for co-action with the inner side of the bead or flange of the can. (See Figure 4.)

The cross wall 42 of the U-shaped element is related to the inclined foot portion 43 of the swinging carrier section so as to provide limitations on the swinging movement of the hook element. If desired, extension pieces 44 may be placed at the outer end of the swinging element for adapting the. same to use on cans having greater length. (See Figures 8 and 9.)

In applying or mounting the can opening and dispensing device, set forth heretofore, the operator first hooks the support element 10 over the upper lip of the can, and thereafter swings this support element down against the side of the can until the contact pad 16 lies against the side. Of course it is desirable to place the device against the can at any point away from the seam.

After having placed the opener in position with the support element as described, the operator holds the can in one hand. He places his other hand upon the swinging blade and spout-carrying section, and presses down firmly and rapidly, locking the latch 15 at the bottom by forcing the same over the marginal flange at the base of the can.

Now it will be observed that the knife operates to cut a hole in the side of the can, thus mutilating the lithographing on the side of the can, which makes it practically impossible to refill the can. The aperture or opening in the can is made adjacent the upper. end thereof, and the opening is extended as close to the upper end as is possible. This insures complete drainage.

The fulcrum point .of the blade, which is the pivot point of the swinging section, is located a proper distance from the point of the knife not only for causing the knife to out immediately adjacent the end of the can, but for permitting the use of a knife which is of the proper length. When the point of the knife is first brought into contact with the side of the can it is of paramount importance that this first contact be made at that part of the side which is best supported, since the greatest pressure generated in perforating the wall occurs when the operator is first causing the point to initially puncture the. material. Since the cutting edges of the knife are curved back, and due to the radius of the swing, a shearing action takes place for cutting down the sides of the opening. The section of the can which is cut back curves off the shearing edges and is bent support is that of a shears or scissors, and the curved top 46 for the knife blade provides a hook I action inherent in the blade, which action because of the location of the pivot serves at once to grip or hold the device on the can while the cutting is taking place. The wall of the U-shaped hollow knife, represented by the bend of the U, as stated is curved longitudinally to provide that the distance between the pivot point of the knife, namely, the axis of the pin 19, and said longitudinally curved wall diminishes toward the tip or contact point of the knife. Therefore, as the cutting progresses the knife forces the can against the hooks of the fulcrum plate and prevents unhooking while cutting. In other words, the can is gripped between the knife and the pivot.

The fulcrum plate for the blade carrier section is highly desirable since it locates and anchors the entire device on the can before the knife cuts into the can.

Because of the shearing action and shape of the knife, it will be readily apparent that it'is sealing while cutting through the wall. The gasket comes into full play when the device is in place by virtue of its contact around the entire margin of the hole, thereby preventing leakage of oil during pouring.

The, inherent compressibility of the cork material preferably used in the gasket and thespringiness of the side f the can combine to cause an outward spring action on the swinging element, tending to hold the lower hook firmly:

in place when the device is attached. The position of the pivot pin 39 relative to the hooks 41 is such that the above described outward spring action tends to hold the hooks against the bottom of the can or against the lower lip of the can, providing a positive attachment.

The spout is projected from the can at an angle from horizontal, in this instance, whereby full drainage can take place from the corner of the can emptying into the spout. A breather hole 38 is provided in the spout for accelerating the pouring operation, In the modification shown in Figure 10, the fulcrum plate does not have the previously described spaced hooks engaging the lip of the can. Instead of these spaced hooks a single contact point is provided. For this purpose a cross wall 50 extends between the side arms of .the fulcrum plate adjacent to and at the inner side of the pivot rod 19. The lower edge of this cross piece 50 is curved intermediate its length to provide a rounded contact or hook portion 51. This cross wall, describing the fulcrum plate in position on the can, is disposed at approximately 45 relative to the top of the can, and therefore engages directly into the corner defined by the top of the can and the lip; The single hook thus formed permits automatic adjustment of the fulcrum plate into the most solid position on the can. There is no opportunity for the hook to become dislodged from position. If the operator should happen to place the fulcrum plate on the can canted from longitudinal position,

.the single centrally located hook will be just as effective for rigid attachment of the device. The remainder of the device shown in this construction is the same as the main form.

The device shown in Figure 11 incorporates a further modification as to the fulcrum plate. In this instance the fulcrum plate, instead of having the pad 16 engaging the side of the can, incorporates side arms 17 extended beyond the lower end of the can. The inner edges of,these arms 1'? are identically curved or notched out as at 52. These notched out portions provide inclined edges angularly engaging the lower lip of the can. The arms, extended well below the bottom of the can as at 53, are connected at their extreme lower ends by a cross rod 54. Clearance is thus provided for the knifeand pouring spout carrier section, so that the hook element 15 thereof can operate between the extended arms and engage the lower lip of the can as heretofore described in the main form.

It will be apparent that application of the fulcrum plate against the side of the can causes a camming action against the lower edge of the can, pulling the fulcrum plate downwardly and fully setting the upper hooks so they cannot become displaced from the upper lip of the can. Having described our invention, we claim: 1. A can opening and pouring device, comprising, an attaching bracket engageable with the flanges at the top and bottom of the can, a

carrier movably mounted on the bracket and incorporating a spout and a can opening blade at the entrance to the spout, said blade adapted to penetrate the side of the can adjacent the upper end thereof on the same side of the can as the bracket when the carrier bearing the spout is in position against the side of the can, and a gasket disposed around the can opening blade for sealing the passage of oil through the aperture into the spout.

2. A combination can opening and pouring device, comprising, a support plate having a hook engageable over one end edge of the can, said plate adapted to lie aganst the side of the can,

-a swinging carrier element pivoted on said support, the pivot of said plate disposed on said support directly above the hook and spaced therefrom, a blade on said'swinging carrier element spaced from the pivot and projected from the swing'ng element toward the support so as to,cut into the can side immediately adjacent'the bead of the can edge, said support plate including an opening for said knife, a spout projected from said swinging carrier element adjacent the knife, and a hook device on the swinging element adapted to cooperate with the other edge of .the can when the blade is engaged through the side of the can. I

3. In a can opening device, a fulcrum plate engageable with the can side, a swinging plate pivotally mounted on said fulcrum plate, a hollow knife blade on the swinging plate adapted to perforate the can side on the same side of the can engaged by the fulcrum plate, and a spout projectedfrom said swinging plate adjacent the cutting blade.

4. A combination can opening and pouring device, comprising, an attaching bracket having a hook engageable over one edge of the can, a swinging plate pivoted on said bracket, the pivot of said element disposed on said support above the hook and spaced therefrom, a U-shaped blade on edge, said blade spaced from the pivot and projected from the swinging element toward the support so as to cut into the can side immediately adjacent the head of the can edge, the bent portion of the blade curved lengthwise and outward, said curve generated on a center adjacent the pivot of said swinging plate and related to the pivot point for forcing the can against the hooks of the said bracket while cutting, and a spout projected from said swinging plate adjacent the knife.

5. In a can opening device, an arm, a tubular blade secured against one side of said arm and presenting an arcuate cutting edge, a gasket mounted about said arcuate blade, a pivot bracket pivotally supporting said arm, said pivot bracket incorporating means for attachment to one end of a can, attachment means at the swinging end of the arm for engagement with the other end of the can, and a pouring spout extended angularly from said arm about said arcuate knife blade.

6. A can opening device, comprising, a support engageable on the can and overhanging the upper edge thereof, a swinging plate pivotally mounted on said support and adapted to beswung against the side of the can, a knife blade on the swinging plate adapted to perforate the side of the can, said knife blade disposed adjacent the pivot, the upper surface of the knife blade longitudinally curved, the distance between the pivot point and the surface diminishing toward the outer end of the surface, whereby as the cutting progresses the can is forced against the overhanging support preventing unhooking while cutting.

7. In a can opening device, a pivot plate engageable against the side of the can, said pivot plate including a hook disposed intermediate of the width of said pivot plate for engagement over the upper edge of the can, a carrier element mounted on the pivot plate adjacent said hook, said element carrying a knife projected toward the pivot plate, saidplate cut away to provide a passageway for said knife, and a spout projecting from said element at the opposite side from said knife.

8. In a can opening device, a fulcrum plate having a hook at its upper end adapted to engage the upper edge. of the can and curved edges at its lower end adapted to transversely engage the lower edge of the can for urging the fulcrum aesaee'r plate downwardly as it is pressed against the side of the can, and a cutting blade pivotally mounted on said fulcrum plate adjacent the hook thereof, said blade adapted to be passed through the side of the can.

9. In a can opening device, a pivot plate engageable against the side of the can, said pivot plate including a hook disposed intermediate of the width of said pivot plate for engagement over the upper edge of the can, and a blade carrier element mounted on the pivot plate adjacent said hook, said blade adapted to pass through the can side.

10. A dispensing canopener, comprising, a claw for anchoring over a seam end edge of the sealed container, a spout hingediy connected to said claw having a cutter extensive of the inlet end of the spout for penetrating the wall of the can, said spout constituting a handle for swinging the spout toward the wallet the can to open communication between the interior of the can and spout, a member extended from said spout, and a claw carried by said member of the spout for anchoring with an opposite seam edge of the can for locking the opener to the can.

11. A dispensing can opener, comprising, a claw for anchoring over a seam end edge of the sealed container and bearing against a portion of the side wall of the can about a pour-out opening formed by the opener, a spout hingedly connected to said claw having a cutter extensive of the inlet end. of the spout for penetrating the wall of the can upon swinging the spout toward the wall of the can to open communication between the interior of the can and spout, said spout including a member extended therefrom, and a claw carried by said member of the spout for anchoring with an opposite seam edge of the can for locking the opener to the can.

12. A dispensing can opener, comprising, a claw for anchoring over a seam end edge of the sealed container and bearing against a portion of the side wall of the can about a. pour-out opening formed by the opener, and a spout hingedly connected to said claw having a cutter extensive of the inlet end of the spout for penetrating the wall of the can upon swinging the spout toward the wall of the can to open communication between the interior of the can and spout.

CLEO HARRIS. i OTTO B. CLARK. 

